Champagne
Champagne, the epitome of elegance and celebration, is widely regarded as the pinnacle of sparkling wines. As one of the most prestigious wine regions in the world, Champagne has captured the hearts of wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs with its exceptional quality, refined craftsmanship, and iconic vineyards.
Historically, Champagne has been dominated by some world-acclaimed Champagne House, which source grapes and harvest from Champagne growers. These famous Grandes Marques include Louis Roederer (Cristal), Dom Pérignon, Krug, Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and Bollinger, all of them are revered for their notable names that display unrivalled winemaking prestige and pedigree.
In the recent decade, the emerging Grower Champagne trend in Champagne is shaking up the industry by challenging the dominance of the big Champagne houses. These small-scale producers, also known as "Récoltant-Manipulant" or RM, grow their own grapes and produce their own Champagne, showcasing the unique terroir and character of their vineyards. Jacques Selosse, Ulysse Collin, and Champagne Vilmart & Cie are among the most prominent names in this trend, producing some truly artisanal and terroir-driven Champagnes.
Champagne is primarily made from three main grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. These grapes are carefully selected and blended to create a harmonious and complex flavour profile. Chardonnay contributes elegance, freshness, and finesse, while Pinot Noir adds structure, depth, and fruitiness. Pinot Meunier brings a touch of roundness and vibrancy to the blend.
The region of Champagne is divided into several distinct sub-regions, including Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs, and Vallée de la Marne. Each sub-region has its unique terroir, characterized by variations in soil composition and microclimates, which influence the style and character of the wines produced.
Champagne offers various styles, from non-vintage blends to vintage cuvées and prestigious prestige cuvées. While Non-vintage Champagnes typically epitomise the house style, the vintage Champagnes are made from grapes harvested in one particular year (top vintages such as 1996, 2002, 2008 etc), in which these wines showcase the unique characteristics of the specific vintage.
The prestige cuvées, often the flagship wines of the renowned Champagne houses, are the pinnacle of excellence. These exceptional Champagnes are created using the finest grapes, the most meticulous winemaking techniques and often benefit from extended ageing to achieve unparalleled complexity and finesse.
Champagne is synonymous with celebration, elegance, and luxury. Its effervescent charm and timeless appeal have made it the drink of choice for countless special occasions and memorable moments. With its rich history, iconic vineyards, and unrivalled quality, Champagne continues to captivate wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.
Champagne
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Champagne | 1 | 96 (WA) | $438.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (96)Predominantly made from Pinot Noir with Chardonnay and a little bit of Pinot Meunier, the 2002 Cuvée William Deutz Brut Millésimé is another highlight of the estate, if not the appellation. The bouquet of this Millésime is bright, very clear, fresh, aromatic and complex, whereas on the palate this is the quintessence of finesse, subtlety, purity and elegance. Sure, this is a structured wine, but it is made like a perfectly shaped antique Greek statue or a jewel. Everything here is perfectly interwoven and nothing stands out except the whole composition, which is perfectly balanced. The bouquet shows finest caramel and spicy oak notes along with white flowers and fine fruit flavors, whereas the palate of this medium-bodied and linear wine is firmly structured, fresh and absolutely delicate. The finish is pure and elegant, as well as complex and long. I would drink this outstanding champagne for its own merits. |
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Champagne | 2 | 98 (CG) | $1,255.00 | |||||
The Champagne Guide (98)65% Pinot mostly from Aÿ, Bouzy, Ambonnay and Verzenay; 32% chardonnay mostly from Avize and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger; 3% meunier mostly from Pierry; 9.5g/L dosage. The finest vintages of William Deutz display profound contrasts and contradictions, juxtaposing the exacting precision of the house with the intensity of the pinot noir, and it is in the most energetic vintages that this accord finds its most alluring expression. No season exemplifies this more magnificently than 2008. It is built around depth and breadth, charged with an incredible display of the freshness of Deutz, and elevated and energised by ulta-fine, chalk-rich minerality that attains new heights of expression in this profound season. For all of its contrasts, it crucially maintains seamless persistance and breathtaking lightness. Youthful endurance is declared in vibrant lemon zest and young summer-fruit freshness, quietly touched with depth of brioche, ginger, vanilla nougat and toast. A prominent, mouth-enveloping, silky cloud of chalk dust is the grand highlight of a mesmerising finish, riding a laser-line of acidity of the utmost elegance. In a full bottle, it will live for decades, but in a half, it's irrestible right away. One of the greatest Deutz cuvees of the modern era. |
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Champagne | 7 | 18 (JR) | $648.00 | |||||
Jancis Robinson (18)Punchy, intense mineral nose. Very refreshing and well put together. Fine texture and a little more open than some 2013s. Beautiful balance. Super-refreshing. A relatively delicate, Pinot Noir-based champagne. |
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Champagne | 3 | - | $716.00 | |||||
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Champagne | 1 | 95 (VN) | $131.00 | |||||
Vinous (95)The 2012 Brut Millésimé William Deutz La Côte Glacière is a Champagne of real substance and textural depth. All of the richness of Aÿ comes through in an expansive, resonant Champagne loaded with character. The flavors are rich and more burnished with Pinot character than in the brighter Meurtet bottling. Spice, leather, dried herbs and sweet plum fruit build over time. This is a fabulous showing from Deutz. |
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Champagne | 6 | 94 (VN) | $565.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)The 2012 Brut Millésimé William Deutz Pinot Noir Meurtet, from vines in Aÿ, is bright, floral and beautifully lifted. The richness of the year becomes evident as the wine sits in the glass. Pear, white flowers, sage, mint and a kick of spice are all nicely layered. Bright, chalky notes lend focus, extending the finish effortlessly. What a gorgeous Champagne this is. |
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Champagne | 10 | 90 (VN) | $269.00 | |||||
Vinous (90)(made from a blend of 75% pinot noir and 25% chardonnay; LA113D03212): Bright orange-pink. Musky, floral-accented aromas of cherry and black raspberry, with a hint of graphite coming up with air. Dry but fleshy, offering bitter cherry and dark berry flavors and a touch of orange zest. Finishes firm and dry, with good grip and a lingering floral note. |
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Champagne | 1 | - | $1,610.00 | |||||
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Experience the embodiment of Chardonnay perfection in a bottle with the Dhondt-Grellet Blanc de Blancs Les Nogers 1er Cru Extra Brut 2013. Crafted in the heart of the Côte des Blancs in the illustrious Champagne region of France, this wine exemplifies the masterful artistry of the Dhondt-Grellet maison, a family-run winery renowned for their sustainable viticulture and traditional winemaking techniques. Grown in the premier Les Nogers vineyard, each grape bestows this wine with remarkable freshness, expressive minerality, and elegant complexity. Aged on lees for a minimum of four years before disgorgement, this artisanal Extra Brut vintage captures the essence of its terroir brilliantly, with alluring bouquet of crisp green apple, floral bloom, and subtle brioche notes. Savour each sip of the Dhondt-Grellet Blanc de Blancs Les Nogers 1er Cru Extra Brut 2013 as you revel in its phenomenal balance, delicate mousse, and persistent finish that echoes sophistication. |
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Champagne | 3 | 95 (WA) | $147.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (95)The new NV Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Les Terres Fines is based on the 2022 vintage and was disgorged in January 2025 with a dosage of 1.5 grams per liter. A blend from Cuis and Grauves, aged in 228-liter barrels (around 25% new) and complemented by 30% wine from a perpetual reserve dating back to 1986, it soars from the glass with a bouquet of dried white flowers, lemon oil, peach, toasted bread and smoke. Full-bodied and concentrated, layered and slightly more incisive than Roc Solare of the same base, it is underpinned by racy acidity and an ample, structuring chalky extract. Adrien recalls 2022 as an easy vintage—hot and dry, without disease pressure—offering a marked stylistic contrast to the chiseled wines produced in 2021. |
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